London Mayor Sadiq Khan said on Twitter: "We're facing a climate emergency. I fully support the right of protesters to protest on this vital issue, and urge organisers to work with police to ensure their demonstrations are peaceful and lawful and that disruption is kept to a minimum."

But his comments angered Police Federation chairman John Apter, who said "officers are under enough pressure as it is".

Police unglue protesters from DLR train

He told the Daily Telegraph: "What we don't need, as well-intended as it might be, is a politician aggravating the situation and making it worse.

"The likes of Sadiq Khan should be supporting the police, especially when we are having to deal with rising crime on our streets."

XR are demanding a meeting with the goverment, and say direct action is needed to force authorities to act urgently on climate change and wildlife declines to halt a "sixth mass extinction".

But a YouGov poll has suggested public opinion has now shifted against the protests.

The survey of 3,561 British adults found 52% either "somewhat oppose" or "strongly oppose" the action, compared with 36% who "strongly support" or "somewhat support" it.

What are Extinction Rebellion's demands?

The group has vowed to keep up acts of "non-violent civil disobedience" until three demands are met.

First, it wants the government to "tell the truth" about "how deadly our situation is" - telling all citizens and businesses what they need to do to stop climate change.

Second, it calls for carbon emissions to be cut to net zero by 2025 and for the global economy to run on no more than half the planet's worth of resources per year.

Thirdly, it demands a "citizen's assembly" be set up to enact those changes as it does not trust the government to make them boldly, swiftly and long-term enough.

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